A 36-year-old Nigerian pilot, Olukayode Ojo, is facing a potential five-year prison sentence in Texas, United States (US), after being found guilty of making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in an attempt to obtain a crucial medical certificate.

U.S. Attorney Robert Troester announced this conviction on Monday, following a jury’s verdict on August 16, 2024.

Ojo, an FAA-certified commercial airline pilot, was convicted on two counts of making false statements after a federal jury returned a superseding indictment against him on June 4, 2024.

The charges stemmed from Ojo’s attempts to conceal his prior criminal convictions while applying for a First Class Medical Certificate, which is required for piloting commercial passenger aircraft.

The case was brought to light through an investigation conducted by the Transportation Security Administration—Investigations (TSA-I) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson Eldridge and Matt Dillon. U.S. District Judge Jodi Dishman, who presided over the case, has ordered Ojo’s detention pending his sentencing.

According to the evidence presented during the trial, Ojo had previously pleaded guilty to two misdemeanour theft charges in Kentucky state court on February 8, 2023.

These charges were related to the theft of passenger luggage from baggage carousels at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Despite this criminal history, Ojo made false statements to the FAA in March 2023 and March 2024 while applying for the medical certificate, deliberately concealing his past convictions.

U.S. Attorney Robert Troester emphasized the seriousness of Ojo’s actions, stating that the integrity of the FAA’s certification process is critical for ensuring the safety of air travel.

The charges Ojo faces could result in a federal prison sentence of up to five years, in addition to fines of up to $250,000 for each count.

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